SOMETIMES the simple things are often the best. And so it proved at East Lancashire's newest music venue with the visit of award-winning Canadian duo Madison Violet.

Armed with nothing more than acoustic guitars, fiddle and mandolin Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac let their voices soar and turned in a spellbinding performance.

The indications that it was to be a special night came early on with the support, rising Ribble Valley star Indigo Rose.

She possesses a hauntingly beautiful voice which perfectly fits her original material – dreamlike and ethereal songs which have an otherworldliness to them.

"I only seem to sing about the weather or magic spells," she laughed during one introduction. Well, Hannah you certainly cast a spell over all those in the audience.

Just one cover – Fleetwood Mac's Dreams – was stunning and the closing number Shiver taken from her debut EP The Cold Spell was received in stunned silence.

Remember the name, Indigo Rose has got talent in abundance.

It may have been my first visit to the recently opened Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre but I think it's going to become one of my favourite venues. It's a genuine listening room. A top notch sound system and its cave like setting in the cellar of the venue makes it the perfect place to sit and enjoy the artists doing what they do best without having to strain over incessant chatter.

The intimate setting was the ideal location for Madison Violet to start their UK tour. The duo have been together for 17 years and treated us to songs from throughout their back catalogue.

Their style veers from Americana (or should that be Canadiana?) to country and folk.

Great musicianship and some stunning harmonies are at the centre of what they do backed up by a nice line in between song patter.

A cover of Beyonce's Daddy Lessons may initially have seemed a strange choice but it worked brilliantly.

Madison Violet's great strength is their personal connection to their own songs. The Woodshed, requested as an encore, is a searingly honest and moving account of the murder of Brenley's brother. Others such as Don't Let Your Heart Be Troubled and Come As You Are have a great warmth to them.

Shorn of a backing band this tour offers a great chance to discover what makes Madison Violet tick – I'd make the most of the opportunity.